Picks and Shovels: 3 innovation ETFs you should know

It can be easy to overreact when markets are volatile. But history shows that technological innovation doesn’t slow down just because markets wobble. In fact, some of the most transformative breakthroughs, from the internet to smartphones to modern cloud computing, continued accelerating through periods of uncertainty.

Today, the next wave of innovation is already underway. Artificial intelligence, robotics, automation and even humanoid technology are advancing at extraordinary speed.

These are megatrends reshaping infrastructure, manufacturing, defence, energy and the way people work. And unlike speculative stocks, there’s a practical, tangible way to invest in the foundations of this boom: the “picks and shovels” behind the innovation economy.

For Australian investors, this story is surprisingly familiar. It begins with raw materials.

Why materials matter in the age of AI

Every AI data centre, industrial robot, humanoid prototype, quantum computer, autonomous vehicle and advanced energy system relies on physical inputs. Behind every futuristic technology lies a long supply chain of metals, minerals and energy sources that must be pulled from the ground, processed and delivered at global scale.

And this is where Australia has a natural advantage. With a commodity-heavy index and global mining giants like BHP, Rio Tinto and Fortescue dominating the ASX, Australian investors intuitively understand the link between resources and economic development.

There are three ETFs uniquely positioned at the intersection of materials and technological advancement. All of which are aligned to long-term megatrends rather than short-term market noise.

1. Global X Copper ETF (ASX: WIRE)

Why copper matters for innovation:

• AI data centres require enormous amounts of copper for heat dissipation and electrical wiring.
• Robotics and automation systems use copper in motors, chips, wiring, sensors and circuit boards.
• Electric vehicles contain two to four times more copper than petrol cars.
• Renewable energy systems like wind turbines to solar farms are copper-intensive by design.

With global electrification accelerating and AI infrastructure buildouts gathering pace, demand for copper is expected to structurally outstrip supply for years. WIRE offers a simple way for investors to gain exposure to this long-term demand without needing to pick individual mining stocks.

ETF

Global X Copper Miners ETF (WIRE)

Global Shares

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2. Global X Uranium ETF (ASX: ATOM)

AI and robotics require vast amounts of energy.

Nuclear energy, powered by uranium, is experiencing a global resurgence because it provides:

• Zero-carbon baseload power
• High reliability
• The ability to support 24/7 AI and computing loads
• Independence from fossil fuel price volatility

Countries including the US, China, South Korea, France and Japan are ramping up nuclear capacity, and demand for uranium is climbing sharply.

ATOM gives investors exposure to the global uranium industry at a time when nuclear energy is being re-evaluated as a critical enabler of the digital economy.

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Global X Uranium ETF (ATOM)

Global Shares

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3. Global X Green Metals ETF (ASX: GMTL)

Green metals including lithium, nickel, cobalt, rare earths and graphite are the essential inputs for:

• EV batteries
• Robotics and automation components
• High-performance magnets used in humanoid technology
• Renewable energy storage
• Advanced computing and electronics

These metals are foundational to both decarbonisation and digitisation. For example, rare earths like neodymium and dysprosium are critical for high-torque motors used in robotics and precision machinery.

GMTL provides diversified exposure across the metals most essential to next-generation technology - smoothing out the volatility of any single commodity.

ETF

Global X Green Metal Miners ETF (GMTL)

Global Shares

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Why These ETFs Make Sense Now

Innovation continues regardless of market sentiment. And materials are needed regardless of economic cycles.

In a world where technology is becoming more physical, more energy-intensive, and more mineral-dependent, investing in the “picks and shovels” of innovation offers a practical way to ride the megatrends shaping the decades ahead.